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| Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir - Not an image I ever hoped to see, but... (JTA) |
And to a lesser extent, the same thing is true about Bezalel Smotrich. He too believes in promoting settlement activity throughout the West Bank (Judea and Samara). I am diametrically opposed to implementing any policies with respect to pro settlement activity. Furthermore, I would have been a lot happier had these two gentleman not been part of the incoming new government.
But that government is going to happen in very short order. Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that his formation of a new government is complete – having satisfied the demands of both the Charedi parties and the right wing Religious Zionist party.
I do not, therefore, blame any Palestinians living in the West Bank for fearing what this government might do to hurt them. Especially since Ben-Gvir has been given unprecedented authority over the police - and control over civilian life in the West Bank is being transferred from the military to civilian authority under a pro settler right wing government.
I understand that fear. But it remains to be seen what will actually be implemented there. I do not believe it is too farfetched to say that there may actually be improvement since the military that is currently in charge is not really structured to govern a civilian population. The fear that Palestinian mistreatment will increase - or worse - that they will be expelled from their homes is premature. In fact I think the opposite might happen. If Palestinians give them the chance, the new government might actually bend over backwards to disprove the naysayers. At least I hope they will.
No one has expressed greater concern – or should I say contempt – for this new government than the left wing media and a variety of Jewish organizations that do not represent Orthodox Jewry. Both in Israel and in the US. In fact the very mention of the new government almost always includes the words ‘far right’.
I know why they refer to it that way. It is in part because of the very same things that concern me. But I also believe that left wing contempt is based as much on a politically conservative government that will not cater to a left wing ideology as it is on the above-mentioned concerns.
The secular left also fears that the new power given to the Charedi parties will usher in a new era of religious coercion. Not to mention the increased burden on taxpayers - the bulk of which are secular - to fully fund Charedi schools and social service institutions.
So the words ‘far right’ mean spolitical conservatives as much as they do Religious Zionists and Charedim.
This is where I part company with them. Anoped in the Wall Street Journal by Bezael Smotrich (some of which is excerpted by theJewish Press) outlines how he will tackle some of the important issues facing Israel. It is quite enlightening. Without getting into too much detail he wishes to move Israel’s economy further away from the old socialist model and more into the American free market model.
The is also fear by the secular left that religious coercion by newly powerful Charedi politicians is on the horizon. That fear should be dispelled for two reasons. Smotirch has pledged that no secular Israeli will be forced to do a single Mitzvah. But that there will be accommodations made for Charedim that will not impact secular Israelis.
Bolstering Smotrich’s claim is the following excerpt from the Jewish Voice:
A prominent member of the Shas Council of Torah Sages tried to reassure secular Israelis Monday that although the upcoming government will be the most religious one in the state’s history, no one will not be coerced into keeping Jewish law.
“I want to calm the secular people,” Rabbi David Yosef told his students in part of a lecture that was first publicized on Channel 12. “We have no intention of enacting laws that will increase hatred and division; we want to unite, we want to draw people closer.”
The bottom line is that incoming government has pledged to do a number of things that that should please conservatives. The left may be unhappy with some them. But extreme they are not. Most of them are not in any way be controversial. To cite some examples listed in the Jewish Press:
The government will strive to fortify national security and provide personal security to its citizens while fighting with determination against violence and terrorism.
The government will strive to continue the fight against Iran’s nuclear program.
The government will strive to strengthen the status of Jerusalem.
The government will strive to promote peace with all our neighbors while preserving Israel’s security, and historical and national interests.
The government will seek social justice by developing the periphery and reducing social disparities while fighting poverty through education, employment, and increased aid to the weaker population segments.
The government will take steps to ensure governance and restore the
The government will put education at the center of the national priorities and work to promote reforms in the education system while seeking equality among all the population groups in the various education systems, and strengthening Jewish identity.
The government will preserve the Jewish character and heritage of the state of Israel, and will also respect the religion and traditions of all the religious groups in the country in keeping with the values of the Declaration of Independence.
The status quo in matters of religion and state will be maintained as has been accepted for decades in Israel, including regarding the holy places.
The government will act to address the problem of personal security in Arab society and fight crime in Arab society, while encouraging education, providing suitable and appropriate solutions for young people, and appropriate investment in infrastructure in Arab communities.
These are some of them. A lot more can be found in that article. With the exception of settlement policy - this hardly sounds like a far right wing extremist government. It sounds downright American!
Which is why I keep saying to give them a chance to govern and see what happens. You never know. It helps no one to keep bashing them by referringto them as the’ far right’
Whether pledges become reality is another matter. We know what often happens to the best laid plans.
But at least as far as their stated intent goes. I hope they succeed. Because if they do, everybody wins except the left.